About
Reviews (4)
Aug 03, 2006
Gaggia Classic - #1 home espresso machine!
17 of 20 found this helpful All Gaggia semi-auto espresso machines for home use are excellent products. Indeed, one could say they are without peers. From the Gaggia Espresso to the Gaggia Classic, each can deliver the finest in espresso beverages with a relatively flat learning curve. There are other manufacturers who build machines that appeal to certain segments of the coffee clique, such as the Rancilio Silvia, La Pavoni Europiccola, Elektra, Olympia, etc., but these machines are considerably more expensive than a Gaggia & often much more difficult to master.
Let's look at the Gaggia Classic line & see if we can determine what makes them so worthy of praise. The Classic comes with a stainless steel exterior, either polished to a mirror finish or with a brushed finish. The accessories are run-of-the-mill plastic parts. Nothing too radical so far, right? Let's look inside to see if that's where the magic is.
The Classic uses an Ulka oscillating pump, a two-piece boiler (top half is aluminum & the bottom is brass). The boiler is heated with two elements rated at 1425 watts. The brew group is mage up of the bottom half of the boiler, various small parts, stainless steel filter baskets, & a very heavy chrome plated 58 mm brass portafilter (professional size & materials). Again, nothing so far that's much different than what other manufactures offer.
So, why do so many people prefer the Gaggia Classic over the other brands? For one thing, there are many machines in the Gaggia lineup, ranging from the Espresso to the Classic. Most people moving up from the steam pots to their first serious espresso machine are price sensitive, not wishing to sink a large amount of money into a hobby (yes, that's exactly what it becomes for most of us). There aren’t many serious espresso machines that have good pumps, real boilers, brass brew groups & professional sized portafilters that have a low entry price. So, the aspiring barista often starts out with a used Espresso bought on eBay or a new Espresso bought from an online retailer & is happy with it until at some point the urge to move up in class overcomes their tight hold on their wallets. Most often a buyer will decide to stay with the brand they've become comfortable with. Thus, it's a natural progression for the buyer to look to the Gaggia Classic as the answer to their need for a better shot of espresso.
What do they get with the Classic? A nice looking machine, good warranty support, plenty of readily available information about how to get the most from their machine. There are people who willingly share their experiences on using & modding the Classic. The true secret of the popularity of the Gaggia Classic then is its ubiquity. It's everywhere - it's almost unheard of for an upscale espresso store not to sell Gaggia Classics & Classics are the most often used machine sold on eBay.
With a minimal amount of practice on the Gaggia Classic an average amateur barista can pull a shot of espresso that surpasses anything they've experienced at their local coffee shop. The necessary maintenance required to keep the Classic operating at peak levels is very simple (use filtered water, descale on a regular basis, keep the metal surfaces clean & free of corrosion).
That's why the Gaggia Classic is the all-time favorite espresso machine designed for home use. And here's an easy search that'll help you find all Gaggia Classics listed on eBay: http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&ht=1&shortcut=0&from=
Sep 16, 2006
A great machine that could use a few changes.
7 of 9 found this helpful First let me say that I really like my Oscars! It makes a great shot, time after time, thanks to the heat exchanger (HX). And the steam capacity of this machine is awesome - you'll run out of milk before you run out of steam. Plus, it looks good sitting on the counter top (although it is a little large).
But for all that, there are things about the Oscar that drive me nuts. For one, there is no hot water dispenser, a standard on machines from every other major maker. For another, it's a hard pull to remove the water reservoir from the machine & if you try to fill it in the machine you're pouring water at shoulder height into an opening the size of a half-dollar.
So why do I own two, you say? Because it is a very serious espresso maker for the serious home barista. For making espresso shots for groups of people it is far superior to the Rancilio Silvia & the consumer machines from Gaggia.
Oct 12, 2006
Gaggia Classic, #1 home espresso machine!
7 of 11 found this helpful All Gaggia semi-auto espresso machines for home use are excellent products. Indeed, one could say they are without peers. From the Gaggia Espresso to the Gaggia Classic, each can deliver the finest in espresso beverages with a relatively flat learning curve. There are other manufacturers who build machines that appeal to certain segments of the coffee clique, such as the Rancilio Silvia, La Pavoni Europiccola, Elektra, Olympia, etc., but these machines are considerably more expensive than a Gaggia & often much more difficult to master.
Let's look at the Gaggia Classic line & see if we can determine what makes them so worthy of praise. The Classic comes with a stainless steel exterior, either polished to a mirror finish or with a brushed finish. The accessories are run-of-the-mill plastic parts. Nothing too radical so far, right? Let's look inside to see if that's where the magic is.
The Classic uses an Ulka oscillating pump, a two-piece boiler (top half is aluminum & the bottom is brass). The boiler is heated with two elements rated at 1425 watts. The brew group is mage up of the bottom half of the boiler, various small parts, stainless steel filter baskets, & a very heavy chrome plated 58 mm brass portafilter (professional size & materials). Again, nothing so far that's much different than what other manufactures offer.
So, why do so many people prefer the Gaggia Classic over the other brands? For one thing, there are many machines in the Gaggia lineup, ranging from the Espresso to the Classic. Most people moving up from the steam pots to their first serious espresso machine are price sensitive, not wishing to sink a large amount of money into a hobby (yes, that's exactly what it becomes for most of us). There aren’t many serious espresso machines that have good pumps, real boilers, brass brew groups & professional sized portafilters that have a low entry price. So, the aspiring barista often starts out with a used Espresso bought on eBay or a new Espresso bought from an online retailer & is happy with it until at some point the urge to move up in class overcomes their tight hold on their wallets. Most often a buyer will decide to stay with the brand they've become comfortable with. Thus, it's a natural progression for the buyer to look to the Gaggia Classic as the answer to their need for a better shot of espresso.
What do they get with the Classic? A nice looking machine, good warranty support, plenty of readily available information about how to get the most from their machine. There are people who willingly share their experiences on using & modding the Classic. The true secret of the popularity of the Gaggia Classic then is its ubiquity. It's everywhere - it's almost unheard of for an upscale espresso store not to sell Gaggia Classics & Classics are the most often used machine sold on eBay.
With a minimal amount of practice on the Gaggia Classic an average amateur barista can pull a shot of espresso that surpasses anything they've experienced at their local coffee shop. The necessary maintenance required to keep the Classic operating at peak levels is very simple (use filtered water, descale on a regular basis, keep the metal surfaces clean & free of corrosion).
That's why the Gaggia Classic is the all-time favorite espresso machine designed for home use. And here's an easy search that'll help you find all Gaggia Classics listed on eBay: http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&ht=1&shortcut=0&from=